Washing-machine.



A. FEYES.

WASHING MACHINE.

APPMCATIQ'N'FILED N0\l. 23, 1915.

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Patented Jan. 7, 1919.

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A. FEYES.

WASHING MACHINE;

APPLICATION FILED N0v.23, 1915.

1,299,151. Patented Jan. 7, 1919.

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APPLICTIUN FILED NOV. 23| 1915. 1,290,151. I Patented Jan. 7,1919.

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ANDREW FEYES, F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T0 AMERICAN BRUSH- WELL COMPANY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF ARIZONA.

WASHING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 7, 1919.

Application led November 23, 1915. Serial No. 63,066.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, ANDREW Ferns, a resident of Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in IVashing-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to machines for washinoclothes or other fabrics, and more particu'larly to washing machines of the scrubbing type embodying rotating rubbing or scrubbing members between which the clothes are manipulated.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved machine of this kind embodying Asimple mechanism which may be easily manipulated and is not liable to get out of order; one which can be made at low cost and is of maximum strength, durability and rigidity for its weight; one whose pressure roller for holding the clothes against the scrubbing brush is so mounted as to be capable of assuming a position with its axis inclined to that of the scrubbing member so as to effectually clean fabrics which are thicker or heavier at one part than at another; one whose pressure roller may be adjusted relatively to the scrubbing member both to vary its pressure upon the clothes and to retract it to and hold it in inoperative position when the machine is not ruiming, to thereby avoid injuring the scrubbing member; one whose frame is of simple construction and comprises relatively less parts than frames of prior machines of this type, and particularly whose cross member also serves as a casing or cover for protecting and inclosing the scrubbing member;

one whose bearings are of special construction, enabling the rotating parts to be assembled in the machine without accurate workmanship but nevertheless in proper alinement so as to avoid friction; one which is so arranged as to circulate liquid over the clothes and scrubbing `members during the cleaning operation; one which may take its supply of liquid from any suitable or convenient place; and also a motor drivenmachine whose operating motor is conveniently located so as to simplify the driving mechanism both to the pump for circulating the liquid and for driving the scrubbing members, and is alsorigidly secured to the frame.

Further objects of the invention are in part obvious and in part will appear more in detail hereinafter. A The invention comprises the scrubbing machine hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, which represent one embodiment of the invention, Figure 1 is a plan view; Fig. 2 is an end view from the right in Fig. l; Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation on the line 3-3, Fig. l; Fig. et is a detail sectional elevation on the line 4r-4, F ig.-1; Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view of one end of the brush and the bearing therefor; Fig. 6 is an end view of said bearing; Figs. 7 and 8 are detail views of a cleaning device; and Fig. 9 is a detail view of an operating lever.

Referring to the drawings, the machine illustrated comprises a suitable frame embodying substantially triangular end members l whose rear portions are connected by a rigid cross member 2, and whose front portions are connected by a brace 3. Each end member l of the frame has a depending leg t adapted to coperate with a pressure screw 5 on a hinged bracket attached to the frame member for rigidly connecting the machine to any suitable support, suoli as a movable or stationary washtub (not shown), as will be readily understood. The endframe members l are provided with alined perforated bosses to receive securing bolts 7 threaded into the cross frame member 2, and the front portions of said end members are provided with inwardly projecting lugs S to receive the tubular brace and hand-rest 3. Y By tightening up the bolts 7 the tubular brace is clamped between the end frame members, so that said brace, the cross member and the end members form a substantially rigid, solid framefor supporting the movable parts of the mechanism.

The central portion of each end member is provided with a non-circular Vopening 9, having straight side walls to receive a bearing member 10, and the portion of said bearing member entering said opening has tapered walls, as indicated at 1l, so that it can tilt slightly in said opening. The bearing members in the two end frame members support the spindle or shaft l2 of the rotating scrubbing member or brush 13.

One end ofthe shaftis provided with a collar 14 and its opposite end with a pulley 15, which collar and pulley prevent said shaft from moving endwise and also prevent the bearing members from escaping from their housing. This arrangement enables the rotary brush to be assembled in the frame with a minimum of labor. The inner faces 2a Vof the end frame members 2 which abut the ends of the cross frame member are merely filed off at and clamped in place without especial care in alining the openings 9. The beveled walls of the bearing member 10 enable said members to tilt or turn slightly in the openings in the frame into proper alinement with each other, so that the brush shaft is properly supported by said bearings with a minimum of friction and independent of slight variations in position of the frame members.

The cross member` 2 of the frame has an upper plate-like body portion 16 provided on its front lower edge with a forwardly extending [lange or ledge 17 lying over the b-rush 13, and which serves as a shield to prevent the water on said brush from flying outwardly into the face of the operator or upon neighboring objects. The rear face of the plate is provided with a longitudinal strengthening rib 18 and belo-w said rib is extended outwardly, downwardly and then forwardly in the form of a semi-cylindrical casing 16fl surrounding and partially in- `closing the scrubbing brush and not only protecting it but also serving to drain the water from the brush back into the tub. All of the several parts of this cross frame member preferably cast as one piece both for increasing' the rigidity of the structure and to simplify its manufacture, and are preferably also Ymade of n'on-corrodible metal, to prevent injuring the fabrics.

In front of the scrubbing brush 13 is located a coperating roller 19 which may be of any suitable form, such as a ribbed o1' corrugated roller7 but is shown as a plain tubular member provided with solid end capsv 2O to which the tube is brazed or soldered, so that liquid cannot enter said tube. Consequently, if one batch of infected clothing is washed with this machine germs are not collected in the roller and will not contaminate later batches. Roller 19 is preferably provided with suitable means for forcing'it toward the scrubbing brush 13, so to press the clothes against said brush, as more fully hereinafter described.. In the particular form shown the caps 2O are provided with axial perforations large enough to loosely receive pins or trunnions 21 on arms 22 pivoted at 23 upon the end frame members. Said arms lie on the inside of the end frame members and the pins 21 are provided with extensions 24 projecting through arcuate slots 25 in the frame. The roller 19V is pressed toward the brush 13 by tension springs 26, said springs being attached at one end to the extensions 24 of the pins 21, and at their opposite ends to pins 27 on the upper ends of arms 28 pivotally mounted on the same pins 23 which support 70 the arms 22. Arms 2S are provided with substantially horizontal outwardly extend ing handle members 29, preferably formed as shown in Fig. 9 with a body part 30 and a movable part 31 pivoted at 32 thereto and whose inner ends are provided with pins-33 extending through large openings in the Y handle members 29' and engaging ratchet teeth 34 on the frame. Pins 33 are held yieldingly against the ratchet teeth by springs 35 engaging Vknobs 36 within the Y hollow handle members. Y

In Fig. 2 the pressure roller 19 is illustrated in coperating relation to the scrubbing brush. The pins 21 abut or are closely Y adjacent the rear ends cf the slots 25, while the arms 28 have been moved rearwardly to extend the springs 27 and thereby hold the roller 19 under yielding pressure against the scrubbing brush. The amount of pressure may be increased or diminished by proper adjustment of the arms 28 to more or less extend said springs. The parts are retained in this position by the pins 33 interlocking with the ratchet teeth 34, thereby preventing the arms 28 from moving outwardly to disengaging position. As illustrated in Fig. l, the pins or trunnions 21 onthe arms 22 are Y slightly smaller than the openings to receive them in the caps 20. Consequently each arm 100 22 can move outwardly to a limited extent independently of the like arm at the Vother end of the frame. Therefore the pressure roller can assume a position with its axis as'kew or inclined Vrelatively to the axis of 105 the Vscrubbing brush, as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 1, in Lcase the fabric being scrubbed is thicker at one end of the scrubbing members than at its other end.

Fig. 3 illustrates the retracted position 110 of the pressure roller. This position is reached by pressing down on the handles 29, causing the pins 33 to wipe over the ratchet teeth 34. During this movement the first Vaction is to relieve the tension of the springs 27, after which Vfurther movement of the handles 29 allows the trunnions of the'roller to move forwardly to the otherends of the slots 25. The partsV are always kept in 1 this position'when the machine is not run- 120 ning in order to prevent deformation ofthe y brush by the pressure roller and also may be 'Y assumed to give freer access tothe brush for disentangling the fabrics `therefrom when necessary. l Y Y Y Y The end frame members 2V are preferably provided around their outer edges with flanges 37, which overlie and protect the operating levers and also prevent the fabrics becoming entangled therewitl'lg'"V At oneend ofthe frameis located a driving motor 38, which may be of any suitable type and is shown as an electric motor. Said motor is mounted upon a suitable bracket 39,

shown as attached to the cross frame member and cast integral with the casing 40 of a suitable fluid pump, said pump comprising two intergeared rotating members 41 located in said casing and arranged to pump the water from the inlet 42 to the outlet 43. rlhe pump inlet 42 communicates with a suction pipe 44, which is preferably a fairly long flexible tube provided at its free end with a strainer, shown as a hollow casing 45 provided with a large number of small perforations. This strainer may be immersed in the liquid in the tub so as to use it over and over again, and avoids conducting lint and foreign matter through the pump. This pipe is preferably made flexible so that if it is Vdesired to use liquid, suchas clear water, from an outside source, say a pail, the strainer may be pulled out of the tub and immersed in said pail. Furthermore, if the openings in the strainer become stopped up it may be held against the rotating brush to clean said openings. Y

'The casing 4() of the pump is attached directly to the back of the upper plate portion of the cross member 2 of the frame, and the outlet end of said casing projects through an opening through said plate leading to one end of a bent pipe 46 attached to the front' of the plate. Said pipe has a straight portion extending longitudinally of the frame and lying directly over the rotating brush 18. The lower portion of said pipe is provided either with a large number of small perforations, or with a long narrow slot 47 sothat it delivers a supplyof liquid over the entire length of the brush.- The outer end of` said pipe may be closed by a suitable cap 48, and also, if desired, said pipe may be provided with any suitable means for cleaning the slot 47 of lint or soap collecting therein. For this purpose the drawings show a ring 49 surrounding the pipe and provided 'with a teat 50 or projection extending into the slot 47. By sliding this ring back and forth over the pipe the teat 50 will completely free the slot of foreign substances.

The operating switch 51 for the motor 38 is preferably located on a convenient portion of the frame, for example upon a bracket 52 lying in front of the motor 38, and which may also be provided with a forwardly extending flange 53 partially 'inclosing said switch and protecting it from the cleaning liquid.

The driving mechanism for the machine is of simple form, and is all located at the motor end. As illustrated, the motor shaft is provided with a pulley 54 to receive a belt 55 passing over a large pulley 56 on one end of the brush shaft 13, and shown as located on the outside of the pulley 15. Said pulley 15 carries a belt 57 passing over a pulley 58 onthe shaft of one of the gear members 41 of the pump. Consequently the motor drives both the rotating brush and pump, and not only produces a scrubbing action but also circulates theliquid over the clothes. The driving mechanism is entirely free of gears and consists primarily of three parallel shafts connected by belts, so that the transmission is direct and free of complications. The various pulleys may be easily withdrawn for replacing them by pulleys of other sizes or for other purposes.

In use of this machine the clothes are immersed in the cleaning liquid in the tub to which the machine is attached. The suction pipe is immersed in said liquid and the mechanism started with the pressure roller in contact with or adjacent the scrubbing brush. The clothes to be cleaned are introduced from `above between the brush and roller and are held by the hand and alternately pulled back and allowed to pass between the Aroller and brush. The operator usually turns the clothes around during this reciprocating or intermittent movement sol as to expose all parts of the fabric to the scrubbing action of the brush. The operation may be repeated as often as desired to secure a. thorough cleansing. With long fabrics, such as sheets or bolts of cloth the goods may be passed between the roller and brush with an intermittent forward and backward movement and constantly advanced so that all portions are subjected to the action of the brush. The clothes are discharged below the roller and brush and may be received by the hand or allowed to fall back into the tub to be later rinsed in. another receptacle.

The scouring action is very efficient and is somewhat of the same nature as is produced with an ordinary handoperated scrubbing brush. However, the rapid movement of the mechanism produces a much more thorough cleansing of the material.

The machine described is of simple construction and can be readily manipulated by an unskilled operator. The adjusting mechanism for the pressure roller enables it to be held either in coperating relation to the scrubbing brush or retracted therefrom, and also enables said roller to force the goods into contact with the brush with any desired amount of pressure. The frame is of very simple form and embodies considerably less parts than prior machines of this kind and can be assembled without the necessity of aocurate work in alining the bearings for the brush shaft. @ther advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

What I claim is 1. A washing machine, comprising a frame having two end membersand a cross member connecting the same, a brush journaled in said end members, a movable pressure roller yieldingly held against said n brush, and operating levers for moving said of the same, said cross member having anV upper plate body and a downwardly extending semi-cylindrical portion, the front portions of said end members having inwardly extending projections, and a tubular cross brace engaging said projections and extending between said end members.

3. A washing machine, comprising a frame having end members and a cross member connecting the same, a brush rotatably mounted in the end members of said frame, levers pivoted in said end frame members, and a pressure roller having a loose pivotal connection at each end to one of said levers, whereby said pressure roller can assume a position with its axis inclined to that of said brush.

4. A washing machine, comprising a frame having end members and a cross member rigidly connecting the same, a brush rotatably mounted in said end members, levers pivoted in said end members, a pressure roller carried by said levers, springs for forcing said roller yieldingly against said brush, and means for varying the tension of said springs.

5. A Washing machine, comprising a frame having end members and a cross member rigidly connecting the same, a brush rotatably mounted in said end members, levers pivoted in said end members, a pressure roller carried by said levers, operating arms pivoted in said end members, springs connecting said arms and levers, and means for locking said arms in various' positions to vary the eect of said springs.

6. A Washing machine, comprising a frame having end members and a cross member rigidly connecting the same, a brush rotatablymounted in said end members, levers pivoted in said end members, a pressure roller carried by said levers, arms pivoted in said end members, springs connecting said arms and levers, ratchets on the frame, and yielding pawls carried by said arms and engaging said ratehets.

7. A washing machine, comprising a frame having end members and a cross member rigidly connecting the same, a brushY rotatably mounted in said end members, levers located within said end members and pivotally connected thereto, a pressure roller carried by said levers, said leversV havingV pins extending outwardly through slots in the end frame members, arms pivotally mounted on the outsidev of the end frame members, and springs connecting said arms and pins.

8. A washing machine, comprising a frame having end members and a cross member rigidly connecting the same, a brush rotatably mounted in said end members,.levers located Within said end members and pivotally connected thereto, a pressure roller engaging the end frame members for locky ing said arms in various positions relative to their pivots.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

Y ANDREW FEYES.

Witnesses:

ELBEn'r L. HYDE, GLENN H. LEREsci-m.

Copies of thispatent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

